Before you order

Before you place your order, please read the below guidance carefully – it will help ensure a smooth, fast and successful apostille or legalisation process.

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Check that your documents can be legalised

Your documents must have been issued by a recognised authority to qualify for apostille/legalisation. For example:

A court, with a wet‑ink court seal.

A public registry – e.g. birth, marriage or death certificates, or company certificates.

Government departments, signed by an authorised official (e.g. tax registration confirmations).

Registered professionals (e.g. a medical certificate signed by a UK‑registered doctor).

Certain other documents may also be legalised if they have been certified by a UK notary or solicitor – such as powers of attorney, contracts, qualification certificates, copies of passports or driving licences.

Check document requirements

Before submitting, confirm with the authority or institution requesting the legalised document whether they require:

The original document or a certified copy

A document signed or certified by a specific person or authority (for example, a UK notary or solicitor)

This helps avoid rejected applications or delays.

Choose the correct type of Apostille / legalisation

To ensure your documents are processed correctly, it’s important to select the appropriate type of apostille or legalisation. Follow these simple steps to prepare your documents:

Step 1: Check document eligibility
Verify that your document can be legalised. Eligible documents include those issued by recognised authorities such as courts, government departments, public registries (e.g., birth, marriage, or company certificates), or documents certified by a UK notary or solicitor.
Step 2: Decide on paper or electronic Apostille
Paper-based Apostille: Physical documents are sent by post to be legalised. Required for most certificates like birth, marriage, or death certificates.
Electronic (e-Apostille): PDF documents electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor. Note that not all documents are eligible for e-Apostille, so check your document type carefully.
Step 3: Prepare documents for submission
Ensure all documents are complete and correctly certified before sending. Originals or properly certified copies should be included as required. Check that signatures, stamps, and seals are present and valid. This step prevents delays and ensures a smooth apostille process.

Confirm whether you need a single Apostille or separate Apostilles

Before placing your order, it’s important to check the requirements of the institution or authority that will receive your documents. In some cases, a single apostille may cover a set of related documents, while in other cases, a separate apostille is required for each individual document.

Confirming this in advance helps avoid delays, additional fees, or the need to resubmit documents. Always clarify with the receiving party which option is required so that your apostille service can be processed correctly the first time.

Note on fees and timing

Each document submitted for apostille or legalisation carries a fee. Please note that fees are non‑refundable if a document is rejected due to issues such as an unrecognised signatory, missing signature or date, or incorrect certification.

Typical processing times are 1–2 working days, not including postage or courier time. The exact turnaround for your documents will be displayed when placing your order, so you know when to expect completion.

To ensure a smooth process and avoid extra costs, double-check your documents and any required certifications before submission.

Ensure correct document format

To be eligible, a document must carry the signature, stamp or seal of a UK public official (or a valid notary/solicitor certification). In many cases, a full original document, not a photocopy, is required for legalization/apostille.

Why choose Rapid Apostille

Trusted UK document legalisation specialists – fast, secure, and internationally recognised.

Fast turnaround
We process apostilles, embassy attestations, and certified translations quickly, including urgent requests, so your documents are ready for international use without delays.
Worldwide acceptance
Our apostilles and legalisations are fully recognised internationally, for visas, work, study, business, and personal purposes.
Secure handling
Every document is treated with care and confidentiality, from receipt to return delivery.
Experienced specialists
Our team has 15+ years of combined experience in UK document legalisation and certified translation services.